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Wildlife Protection.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 May 2004

Tuesday, 18 May 2004

Questions (390)

Tony Gregory

Question:

404 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the protection which exists for the feral goat; if, in the absence of protective measures, regulations can be introduced to regulate the hunting and killing of many thousands of these goats in the Burren and elsewhere; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14618/04]

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Written answers

Feral goats are derived or descended from stocks of domestic goats that escaped or were released to run wild. They are not regarded as having a nature conservation value and are not protected under the Wildlife Acts, 1976 and 2000. My Department does not therefore have statutory responsibilities for feral goats. The killing of such goats could, however, raise questions of criminal or civil law in specific instances, particularly where ownership of the animals concerned might be claimed as farmed stock which have escaped.

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